Gun Sling Restraint Device for a Backpack Shoulder Strap

ABSTRACT

A gun sling restraint device for a backpack shoulder strap is an apparatus that allows a user to hang the gun sling of a rifle on their backpack shoulder strap and comprises a platform, a sling hook, and an attachment strap. The platform is a rigid panel that braces the apparatus against the top surface of the backpack shoulder strap. The platform properly positions the sling hook on the user&#39;s shoulder so that the user can hang the gun sling on the apparatus. The sling brace is connected normal to the platform but then angles toward the user&#39;s neck in order to prevent the gun sling from falling off the apparatus. The attachment strap connects to the platform by weaving through a pair of holes that are located on the platform and wraps around the backpack shoulder strap as a means to situate the platform on the backpack shoulder strap.

The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patentapplication Ser. No. 61/437,777 filed on Jan. 31, 2011.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for restraininga shoulder strap. More particularly, the present invention is a backpackshoulder strap restraint for a gun sling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The sport of hunting is a very meticulous activity, which requires ahunter to focus on their surroundings and positioning. Any mishap by thehunter can cause the hunter to lose their prey. One such mishap is thehunter's gun sling slipping off their shoulder, which can occur when thehunter is maneuvering their body through rough terrain. Typically, ahunter will also carry a backpack and a rifle on hunting trips throughthe wilderness. If the hunter is wearing a backpack on their shoulders,then the gun sling is even more likely to slip off The hunter will haveto continuously reposition the gun sling on their shoulder in order tokeep the gun sling from falling off their shoulder. Thus, the objectiveof the present invention is to provide a restraint for the gun sling onthe backpack shoulder strap in order to prevent the gun sling fromaccidentally or unwillingly slipping off the hunter's shoulder. Thepresent invention is specifically designed to be attached to a backpackwithout any modifications to the backpack shoulder straps.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the present invention with theattachment strap not engaged to the second slot.

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the present invention with theattachment strap not engaged to the second slot.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the platform and the sling hook.

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the platform and the sling hook.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the present invention with the endsegment not attached to the middle segment.

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the present invention with theend segment not attached to the middle segment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the present invention with the endsegment attached to the middle segment.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the present invention with the end segmentattached to the middle segment.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describingselected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limitthe scope of the present invention.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention is a gun slingrestraint device for a backpack shoulder strap, which provides a userwith additional support to carry a gun sling on their shoulder whilewearing a backpack. The present invention can also be used to keepanything with a shoulder strap from slipping off their shoulder whilewearing a backpack. Two or more of the present invention can be used onthe same backpack shoulder strap to keep the gun sling situated inextremely rugged terrain. The present invention comprises a platform 1,a sling hook 7, and an attachment strap 10. The platform 1 is a base forall the other components of the present invention to be attachedtogether and is used to properly position the sling hook 7 on top of thebackpack shoulder strap. The sling hook 7 allows the present inventionto hang the gun sling on the backpack shoulder strap. The attachmentstrap 10 wraps around the backpack shoulder strap so that the presentinvention stays attached to backpack shoulder strap. The attachmentstrap 10 allows the user to quickly attach and detach the presentinvention from the backpack shoulder strap with relative ease.

The platform 1 is a flat panel that rests on top of the backpackshoulder strap and is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The length of the platform1 would be about the same as the width of the backpack shoulder strap,which would properly situate the sling hook 7 normal to the top surfaceof the backpack shoulder strap. Unlike the attachment strap 10, theplatform 1 is rigid, which ensures that the present invention does notrotate around the backpack shoulder strap. The platform 1 comprises afirst slot 2, a second slot 3, a first end 5, and a second end 6. Thefirst end 5 and the second end 6 are positioned to be opposite to eachother along the length of the platform 1. The first slot 2 traversesthrough the platform 1 and is positioned adjacent to the first end 5.Similarly, the second slot 3 also traverses through the platform 1 andis positioned adjacent to the second end 6. Both the first slot 2 andthe second slot 3 allows the attachment strap 10 to weave in and out ofthe platform 1 in order to connect the attachment strap 10 to theplatform 1.

The sling hook 7 is positioned on the top surface of the platform 1 andallows the user to hang the gun sling onto the present invention. Theheight of the sling hook 7 should be able to accommodate a variety ofpadded gun slings and be able to compensate for the natural downwardslope of the user's shoulder. The sling hook 7 comprises an extensionportion 8 and a sloped portion 9. The extension portion 8 is connectednormal to the top surface of the platform 1 and is positioned adjacentto the second slot 3. Once the user hangs the gun sling onto the slinghook 7, the gun sling rests on the extension portion 8 and the platform1. The sloped portion 9 is connected to the extension portion 8 oppositeto the platform 1. The sloped portion 9 is angled towards the first slot2 and, more importantly, towards the user's neck, which prevents the gunsling from slipping off of the sling hook 7 and sliding down the user'sshoulder. Alternatively, the user can attach the present invention inthe opposite direction on the backpack shoulder strap so that the slopedportion 9 is angled away from the user's neck, which allows the user tohang the gun sling across their chest. This orientation of the presentinvention prevents the gun sling from pressing against the user's neckwhen the user wears the gun sling across their chest. If the userattaches two of the present invention with the sloped portion 9 facingoutward on each of the backpack shoulder straps, then the user can hanganything with a neck-strap, such as binoculars or a camera, onto theirbackpack and, thus, transfer the weight of such an item off their neck.

The attachment strap 10 wraps around the backpack shoulder strap inorder to keep the platform 1 and the sling hook 7 situated atop theuser's shoulder. As can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, the attachment strap10 comprises a loop segment 11, a middle segment 12, a bending segment15, and an end segment 16. The loop segment 11 traverses through thefirst slot 2 and encircles the first end 5 of the platform 1. The loopsegment 11 serves as a permanent bond between the attachment strap 10and the platform 1. The middle segment 12 is connected adjacent to theloop segment 11 and is located underneath the platform 1. When thepresent invention is attached to the backpack shoulder strap, thebackpack shoulder strap is sandwiched in between the bottom surface ofthe platform 1 and the middle segment 12. The bending segment 15 isconnected adjacent to the middle segment 12 opposite to the loop segment11. The bending segment 15 traverses through the second slot 3 and ispositioned around the second end 6. The bending segment 15 completes thepresent invention's embrace around the backpack shoulder strap, whichincludes the bottom surface of the platform 1, the loop segment 11, themiddle segment 12, and the bending segment 15. The bending segment 15and the second end 6 serve as a pulley system to tighten the attachmentstrap 10 against the platform 1. The end segment 16 is connectedadjacent to the bending segment 15 opposite to the middle segment 12.The end segment 16 is located below the middle segment 12 and fastens tothe middle segment 12 so that the appropriate amount of tension ismaintained throughout the attachment strap 10.

The middle segment 12 and the end segment 16 each have two differentsurfaces that accomplish two different functions, which can be seen inFIGS. 5 and 6. The middle segment 12 comprises a backpack surface 13 anda loops surface 14. The backpack surface 13 is located on top of themiddle segment 12 and presses against the backpack shoulder strap. Thebackpack surface 13 could provide an additional means for the presentinvention to grip the backpack shoulder strap from the bottom. The loopssurface 14 is located on the bottom of the middle segment 12 andcontains the loop portion of a hook-and-loop fastener. The end segment16 comprises a hooks surface 17 and a shoulder surface 18. The shouldersurface 18 is located on the bottom of the end segment 16 and pressesagainst the user shoulder. The shoulder surface 18 could be padded as ameans to make the present invention more comfortable to wear on thebackpack shoulder strap for the user. The hooks surface 17 is located ontop of the end segment 16 and contains the hook portion of ahook-and-loop fastener. Consequently, the hooks surface 17 is able toengage the loops surface 14, which attaches the end segment 16 to themiddle segment 12.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the attachmentstrap 10 is one piece of material with the loop portion of ahook-and-loop fastener on one side and with the hook portion of ahook-and-loop fastener on the other side. In order to form the loopsegment 11 and the middle segment 12, one end of the attachment strap 10traverses through the first slot 2 and loops around the first end 5 sothat the hook portion of the attachment strap 10 can fold back on itselfand can be adhered together. In order to form the bending segment 15 andthe end segment 16, the other end of the attachment strap 10 traversesthrough the second slot 3 and loops around the second end 6 so that thehook portion of the attachment strap 10 is able to be attached to theloops surface 17 on the middle segment 12.

The attachment strap 10 does not require any special modifications tothe backpack shoulder strap in order to affix the present invention tothe backpack shoulder strap. Any kind of modifications to the backpackshoulder strap such as buttons, snaps, or screws would be cumbersome andwould press into the user' skin as the weight of gun on the gun slingbears down on the present invention, which would cause the user to feelpain. The attachment strap 10 is the most efficient means to attach thepresent invention to the backpack shoulder strap. An adhesive means toattach the present invention to the backpack shoulder strap would not beable to bear the weight of the gun while dealing the dynamic movement ofthe gun, the backpack, and the user through rough terrain. The adhesivemeans to attach the present invention to the backpack shoulder packwould also not allow the user to adjust the position of the presentinvention along the length of the backpack shoulder strap. A means tosew the present invention onto the backpack shoulder strap would beplausible with modifications to the platform 1 but would make thepresent invention only available to backpacks produced in the future andnot available to already existing backpacks. The means to sew thepresent invention onto the backpack shoulder strap would also not allowthe user to adjust the position of the present invention along thelength of the backpack shoulder strap.

The design of the present invention has many advantages. One advantageis that the design of the present invention utilizes the padding in thebackpack shoulder strap to reduce the fatigue on the user's shoulderfrom carrying the weight of the gun sling. Another advantage is that thedynamic horizontal load of the gun sling is distributed to the oppositebackpack shoulder strap because most common backpacks have a sternumstrap. The sternum strap is used to attach both of the backpack shoulderstraps to each other across the user's chest, which prevents thebackpack shoulder strap with the present invention from sliding off theuser's shoulder. Another advantage is that the present invention iscompletely self-contained in that the present invention can attach tothe backpack shoulder strap without any modifications to the backpackshoulder strap. Another advantage is that the present invention does nothave any moving parts that would fail in wet or freezing weather or doesnot have any sort of covering or jacket that could wear out over time.The present invention can be used in very hot or very cold climates andis impervious to weather conditions such as snow, rain, and sleet.Another advantage is that the user can quickly remove the gun sling offthe present invention so that the user can get off a quick shot withtheir rifle. The present invention does not use any snaps or straps torestrain the gun sling and allows the user to access their rifle withoutany unnecessary or noisy movement that could spook the prey. Anotheradvantage is that the present invention allows the user's hands to befree of reposition the gun sling on their shoulder and allows the userto carry other objects and drag game. The last advantage is that thepresent invention can be easily moved from the backpack shoulder strapto the opposite backpack shoulder strap, which should reduce the fatigueof long carries on one shoulder.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferredembodiment, it is to be understood that many other possiblemodifications and variations can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

1. A gun sling restraint device for a backpack shoulder strap comprises,a platform; a sling hook; an attachment strap; said platform comprises afirst slot, a second slot, a first end, and a second end; said slinghook comprises an extension portion and sloped portion; said attachmentstrap comprises a loop segment, a middle segment, a bending segment, andan end segment; said middle segment comprises a backpack surface and aloops surface; and said end segment comprises a hooks surface and ashoulder surface.
 2. The gun sling restraint device for a backpackshoulder strap as claimed in claim 1 comprises, said first end and saidsecond end being positioned opposite to each other on said platform;said first slot traversing through said platform adjacent to said firstend; and said second slot traversing through said platform adjacent tosaid second end.
 3. The gun sling restraint device for a backpackshoulder strap as claimed in claim 2 comprises, said sling hook beingpositioned atop said platform; and said sling hook being positioned inbetween said first slot and said second slot.
 4. The gun sling restraintdevice for a backpack shoulder strap as claimed in claim 1 comprises,said extension portion being connected normal to said platform; saidextension portion being positioned adjacent to said second slot; saidsloped portion being connected to said extension portion opposite tosaid platform; and said sloped portion being angled towards said firstend.
 5. The gun sling restraint device for a backpack shoulder strap asclaimed in claim 1 comprises, said loop segment traversing through saidfirst slot and encircling said first end; said loop segment beingconnected adjacent to said middle segment; said middle segment beinglocated below said platform; said bending segment being connectedadjacent to said middle segment opposite to said loop segment; saidbending segment traversing through said second slot and being positionedaround said second end; said end segment being connected adjacent tosaid bending segment opposite to said middle segment; and said endsegment being located below said middle segment.
 6. The gun slingrestraint device for a backpack shoulder strap as claimed in claim 5comprises, said backpack surface being positioned atop said middlesegment; said loops surface being positioned beneath said middlesegment; said hooks surface being positioned atop said end segment; andsaid shoulder surface being positioned beneath said end segment.
 7. Thegun sling restraint device for a backpack shoulder strap as claimed inclaim 6 comprises, said loops surface being engaged by hooks surface. 8.A gun sling restraint device for a backpack shoulder strap comprises, aplatform; a sling hook; an attachment strap; said platform comprises afirst slot, a second slot, a first end, and a second end; said slinghook comprises an extension portion and sloped portion; said attachmentstrap comprises a loop segment, a middle segment, a bending segment, andan end segment; said middle segment comprises a backpack surface and aloops surface; said end segment comprises a hooks surface and a shouldersurface; said first end and said second end being positioned opposite toeach other on said platform; said first slot traversing through saidplatform adjacent to said first end; said second slot traversing throughsaid platform adjacent to said second end; said sling hook beingpositioned atop said platform; and said sling hook being positioned inbetween said first slot and said second slot.
 9. The gun sling restraintdevice for a backpack shoulder strap as claimed in claim 8 comprises,said extension portion being connected normal to said platform; saidextension portion being positioned adjacent to said second slot; saidsloped portion being connected to said extension portion opposite tosaid platform; and said sloped portion being angled towards said firstend.
 10. The gun sling restraint device for a backpack shoulder strap asclaimed in claim 8 comprises, said loop segment traversing through saidfirst slot and encircling said first end; said loop segment beingconnected adjacent to said middle segment; said middle segment beinglocated below said platform; said bending segment being connectedadjacent to said middle segment opposite to said loop segment; saidbending segment traversing through said second slot and being positionedaround said second end; said end segment being connected adjacent tosaid bending segment opposite to said middle segment; said end segmentbeing located below said middle segment; said backpack surface beingpositioned atop said middle segment; and said shoulder surface beingpositioned beneath said end segment.
 11. The gun sling restraint devicefor a backpack shoulder strap as claimed in claim 10 comprises, saidloops surface being positioned beneath said middle segment; said hookssurface being positioned atop said end segment; and said loops surfacebeing engaged by hooks surface.
 12. A gun sling restraint device for abackpack shoulder strap comprises, a platform; a sling hook; anattachment strap; said platform comprises a first slot, a second slot, afirst end, and a second end; said sling hook comprises an extensionportion and sloped portion; said attachment strap comprises a loopsegment, a middle segment, a bending segment, and an end segment; saidmiddle segment comprises a backpack surface and a loops surface; saidend segment comprises a hooks surface and a shoulder surface; said firstend and said second end being positioned opposite to each other on saidplatform; said first slot traversing through said platform adjacent tosaid first end; said second slot traversing through said platformadjacent to said second end; said sling hook being positioned atop saidplatform; said sling hook being positioned in between said first slotand said second slot; said extension portion being connected normal tosaid platform; said extension portion being positioned adjacent to saidsecond slot; said sloped portion being connected to said extensionportion opposite to said platform; and said sloped portion being angledtowards said first end.
 13. The gun sling restraint device for abackpack shoulder strap as claimed in claim 12 comprises, said loopsegment traversing through said first slot and encircling said firstend; said loop segment being connected adjacent to said middle segment;said middle segment being located below said platform; said bendingsegment being connected adjacent to said middle segment opposite to saidloop segment; said bending segment traversing through said second slotand being positioned around said second end; and said end segment beingconnected adjacent to said bending segment opposite to said middlesegment.
 14. The gun sling restraint device for a backpack shoulderstrap as claimed in claim 13 comprises, said end segment being locatedbelow said middle segment; said backpack surface being positioned atopsaid middle segment; said loops surface being positioned beneath saidmiddle segment; said hooks surface being positioned atop said endsegment; said shoulder surface being positioned beneath said endsegment; and said loops surface being engaged by hooks surface.